Mo Butler Named to Montclair State University Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees at Montclair State University officially welcomed Modia “Mo” Butler, a highly respected public affairs expert with extensive experience in government relations, political campaigns and strategic communications in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., as its newest member at its meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently appointed Butler, currently a partner at Mercury Public Affairs, with advice and consent of the State Senate. At Mercury, Butler advises clients across various sectors including government, real estate development, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and nonprofits.

“We are pleased to welcome Mo to our Board,” says Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. “His extensive experience in government and nonprofit organizations will be an outstanding addition, and will help us achieve our goals in creating life-changing student outcomes.”

“I am excited to join the Montclair State University Board of Trustees,” says Butler. “The University is quickly becoming recognized as an innovator in the higher education space. I look forward to working with President Koppell and the Board to ensure that Montclair continues to be an institution of opportunity for New Jersey’s students.”

Prior to joining Mercury, Butler served as the chief of staff to United States Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). Under Butler’s leadership, the Senate office helped jumpstart the Gateway Project, secured funding for Hurricane Sandy relief to rebuild New Jersey’s shoreline and led historic sentencing reform efforts.

Butler also served as a senior advisor to Senator Booker during his previous and current three campaigns for United States Senate and his presidential bid in 2020.

Prior to serving in the U.S. Senate, Butler was Chief of Staff to Booker when he was Mayor of Newark. In that role, Butler was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the city while managing a workforce of 3,000 public employees. Butler was also responsible for implementing the Mayor’s public safety initiatives that led to a drastic reduction in crime and sought to address the underlying structural causes of violence.

For over a decade, various media outlets have listed Butler as one of the most powerful people in New Jersey Politics. Those outlets include The Observer, New Jersey Globe, Insider NJ, and ROI-NJ.

Butler received his bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College and master’s degree from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, where he is currently a visiting associate. In 2021, Butler was appointed chairman of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) by Governor Murphy. Butler also serves as a trustee of his alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College, and sits on the board of New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).

“We thank Governor Murphy for appointing someone as accomplished as Mo Butler to our Board,” says Board of Trustees Chair Kent Sluyter. “He will be an excellent addition to our Board, and we look forward to working with him.”

For more information on the Board of Trustees at Montclair State University, visit the Board’s official webpage.